Switch-stand.



UNITED STATES PATENT orrion,

MALCOLM W. LONG, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGrNOR TO THE PENNSYLVANIA-STEEL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 12,1906. Serial No. 338,632.

Patented June 18, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be'it known that I, MALCOLM W. LONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Harrisburg, Dauphin county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanymg drawings, of which Flgure 1 is a plan view of a switch-stand in which my invention is embodied, showing the same connected with a closed switch; the

upper portion of the casing of the working parts of the stand having been removedto show said parts. Fig. 2 is a section on the line ncac, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section as on the line y.-'y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line zz Fig. 1.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic switch-stands in which the operating lever is parallel with the track-way and the switch is operated through the medium of a helical gear on the shaft of the operating lever which engages the corresponding teeth of a rack-bar parallel with said shaft, and connected to the switch-point rails.

The main object of the invention is to provide, in a switch-stand ofthis general type, means whereby, if a train trails through the switch and the operating lever is locked down so as to be incapable of movement, the switch will be automatically operated and the target will be actuated to indicate the position of the switch, notwithstanding the immovability of said lever.

The precise character of the invention will appear from the following description 1 is a main track-rail, and 2, a switch point rail, the said rails being shown in position in which the switch is closed. Extending from the point-rail, 2, is the usual switch-bar, 3, which is connected by a bolt, 4, to a rackbar, 5, which is adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally in guideways, 6, of the bottom portion, 7 of the casing, 7, of the switch-stand. The rack-bar, 5, is provided with a rack, 8, having suitably shaped teeth meshing with the teeth of a helical gear, 9, loosely mounted upon a shaft, 10, journaled in the casing, 7, and parallel with said rackbar.

Extending from one end of the gear, 9, is a lug, 11, which, in this instance, extends rotated.

about one-third of the distance around the end of said gear, as clearly seen in Fig. 4. Secured to the shaft, 10, by a pin, 12, is a collar, 13, having, extending from the end thereof, adjacent the helical gear, a lug, 14, which, in this instance, extends about onehalf the distance aroundthe end of said collar and gear, either end of which is adapted to engage, for a pur ose hereinafter described, the corresponding end of the lug, 11, of the helical gear. Upon said collar, 13, is a helical gear 15, meshing with the teeth of a segment gear, 16, on the vertical target shaft, 17, journaled in and extending upwardly from the casing, 7; said vertical target-shaft, 17 carrying, usual target, 18. On the outer end of the shaft, 10, is secured the usual weighted lever, 19.

The operation of the switch-stand is as follows :The parts being in the position-illustrated in the drawings, and the lever being engaged by the catch, 20, of the latch stand, 21, and it being desired to throw the switch by hand, the operator releases the catch from engagement with the said lever, and grasps the weighted end thereof, and lifts the same,

at its upper end, a

thereby rotating the shaft, 10, and consequently the collar, 13 secured thereon, and so through the medium of the helical gear, 15,

and segment gear, 16, the target shaft, 17 is As the lug, 14, of the collar, 13, extends one-half of the way round the shaft, 10, while the lug, 11, on the helical gear, 9,

extends but one-third way around said shaft,

there is a lost motion between said lugs, when the shaft, 10 is rotated by lifting the lever, so that, while the operation of the lever correspondingly rotates the vertical target shaft so that a movement of said lever through an arc of 180 degrees will rotate said target shaft degrees, the work of throwing the switch will not be begun until the lug, -14, engages the lug, 11, thereby enabling the operator to get the benefit of the inertia of the weighted lever, 19. When the lug, 14, engages the lug, 11, the helical gear, 9, is thereby rotated, and consequently the rack-bar, 5 is moved outwardly and so opens the switch. If, however, the parts be in the position of the drawings, and the lever be not locked down, and a train come trailing through the closed switch, the movement of the pointrail away from the track rail, by the action of the train passing over the switch, will draw over the switch-bar 3, and consequently the rack-bar, 5, and thereby through the rack, 8, the helical gear, 9, is rotated and its lug, 11 engaging the lug, 14, rotates the collar, 13, and consequently the shaft, 10; and so the lever 19, is rotated from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to the dotted line position of the latter figure, and the vertical target shaft is rotated degrees to indicate the position of the switch. If, however, the lever is in the position of Fig. 1, and is locked down, as indicated in said figure, and a train trail through the closed switch, the actuation of the switch bar, rack-bar, and helical gear, 9, will occur as when the lever is not locked down, as above described; and the lug, 11, engaging the lug, 14, of the collar, 13, will rotate said collar upon the shaft, 10, the pin, 12, securing said collar to the said shaft being made weak enough that, under these conditions, it will shear off, and so permit the rotation of said collar on said shaft; whereby through the medium of the helical gear, 15, and the segment gear, 16, the target shaft is rotated 90 degrees, thus indicating that the switch has been opened by the passing train, regardless of the position of the lever.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the collar on said shaft, the target shaft, driving connections between said collar and target shaft: the longitudinally movable switch-bar, connections between said switch-bar and said collar, whereby rotation of said collar causes longitudinal movement of said switch-bar, and the converse; together with a frangible connection securing said collar to said horizontal shaft, whereby, if said shaft be locked against rotation, and the switch automatically operated, said frangible connection will be severed, and the collar will be caused to rotate on said shaft, and so the target-shaft rotated, substantially as set forth.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft j ournaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical gear loosely mounted on said shaft, the raclcbar, having teeth engaging said gear, said rackbar being adapted to be reciprocated longi- .having teeth engaging said gear, said tudinally in said case, and its outer end connected to the switch-rails; a collar on said shaft, provided with a part engaging a part on the said helical gear, the target-shaft, driving connections between said target shaft and said collar; together with a frangible connection securing said collar to said firstmentioned shaft, whereby, if said horizontal shaft be locked against rotation, and the switch automatically operated, said collar will be caused to rotate on said shaft, and so the target shaft rotated, substantially as set forth.

3. In a switch stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft j ournaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical gear loosely mounted on said shaft, the rack-bar,

rackbar being adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally in said case, and its outer end connected to the switch-rails; a collar on said shaft, provided with a part engaging a part on the said helical gear; there being a lost motion between said two arts; the target shaft, driving connections etween said target shaft and said collar; together with a frangible connection securing said collar to said first-mentioned shaft, whereby, if said horizontal shaft be locked against rotation, and the switch automatically operated, said collar will be caused to rotate on said shaft, and so the target shaft rotated, substantially as set forth.

v 4. In a switch-stand,the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft j ournaled therein, the lever on said shaft, means for locking said lever against rotation; the helical gear loosely mounted on said shaft, the rack-bar adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally in said case below said shaft, and provided with teeth engaging said helical gear, the outer end of said rack-bar being connected to the switch-rails; the collar on said shaft, the frangible pin connecting said collar and shaft, the lug on said collar, and the corresponding lug on said helical gear engaging the first mentioned lug; the vertical target shaft, driving connections between said collar and target shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

MALCOLM W. LONG.

Witnesses:

WM. R. MILLER, B. S. WEAVER. 

